Access to cancer screening for Latin American and Caribbean older women with disability

There is limited information on how disability is correlated with access to health care among Latin American and Caribbean older women. Unmet cancer screening needs according to health insurance coverage were assessed among older women with disabilities. A cross-sectional study, 5,183 women aged 60 and older from six cities (Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo, Santiago, Montevideo, Mexico City, Bridgetown) of the Health, Well-Being and Aging in Latin America and the Caribbean Study (SABE; 1999-2000). Regression models adjusted for relevant demographic and health variables were used to estimate the associations between reported cancer screening access (Pap smear or a mammogram within the last 2 years) and disability (functional or sensory) by health insurance status. In multivariate analyses of the combined sample of six cities, being uninsured and with any functional difficulty on instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) or activities of daily living (ADL) showed an association with the lack of these cancer screening needs: Pap smear (odds ratios= OR 2.43 95% confidence intervals= CI 1.45-4.07). Also, being uninsured and with any report of fair/poor (near or distant) vision or hearing was associated with lack of these cancer screening needs: Pap smear (OR 2.68 95% CI 1.79-4.01), and mammography (OR 1.79 95% CI 1.06-3.03). Some variations across cities were found. In conclusiion, being uninsured was significantly associated with unmet cancer screening needs among functional or sensory disabled Latin American and Caribbean older women.